Ascension (Nanowrimo13)

Ascension [11]

Chapter 11

The next few days were a torrent of inane social visits and bouts of quiet weeping. The family had gone into mourning but not many of the noble families took much notice. A tragedy such as this was an opportunity to dig their nose in and get the inside scoop on who would succeed to the throne now that the heir was dead.

Byron had been one of the strongest vampires. The only ones in knowledge who could surpass him in strength and speed were his brother and his father. The thought that their great warrior, their chosen prince, had been killed was enough to cause unrest and disruption all over.

Colbie sat on the floor, the cool marble odd comforting against her bare feet. Her back was pressed against the wall outside of her father’s office. The door hadn’t quite caught when her brother had entered only a few minutes before which meant that she was able to hear the discussion happening inside. It only made her queasy stomach churn more violently.

“- Several riots in the north. You know Malachi has been looking for a moment to cause trouble.”

Her father sighed wearily. She knew the sound too well.

“Send up a few men. Show our presence in the area. They usually have a bark worse than their bite.” The scratch of pen on paper followed. “Offer them invitations to the coronation as a good will gesture. It will dampen any fires.”

Sebastian’s voice was curious when he responded, sounding so different to the being that had showed up in her room just a few short days ago.

“Are you certain she will choose our life? That she will step up to the plate?”

William did not respond for a long while, obviously lost in thought. Colbie almost thought he had fallen asleep.

“Yes, she is stronger than both of us. She just doesn’t know it yet.” Colbie could picture scratching his jaw as he stared out of the window and into the darkness. “She has always been cared for and protected, as the only girl to be born to us we thought it was our duty. She has never had to prove herself but now is her chance.”

“I hope you are right father. When I was her age, I did not want to even think about responsibility and duty. Why do you think I joined the brotherhood? I didn’t want to responsible for a kingdom, I wanted fame and glory. I wanted to slay beasts and be remembered forever as a great protector of our people.”

Sebastian fell into silence.

“I hope I am right too. But for what it is worth my son, you would have made a great king. You may not have believed in yourself but I always did.”

Colbie felt her own heart melt at her father’s words. She knew that the years had been difficult on her brother. No doubt he had wanted to leave the brotherhood at some point over the years but once you have been inducted and experienced the horrors they have, it was inconceivable that they could ever truly assimilate to normal life. Most suffered some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Thanks papa.”

Seconds later, there was a clapping sound as father and son embraced, patting each other on the back as they held each other tightly.

“You don’t have to thank me Seb. It’s the truth.”

Colbie smiled to herself and pushed to her feet. It was strange to know that her older brother, the one who lived solely in the darkness, could revert so easily into being a child again – desperate for his father’s approval. And yet it strangely warmed her heart. It gave her hope that she would be able to keep who she was inside, even after the centuries fighting the darkness.